This was supposed to be a make-or-break year for Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, but he couldn’t make it past the opening drive of Saturday’s preseason game against the Browns to see it through.

With a little more than eight minutes left in the first quarter, Bradford was hit by Armonty Bryant and after attempting to get up, quickly fell to the ground, writhing in pain. He later limped off the field on his own power, and initial tests on the knee led him to believe that he did not sustain any ligament damage. But Bradford, who was making his second preseason start since tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament last October, was of concern to Rams officials.

ORLANDO — The NFL competition committee, headed by Rich McKay and St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher, will brief the league’s head coaches about the proposed rule changes at a 12:30 p.m. meeting today.

Broncos coach John Fox has his thoughts on all the proposed rule changes — there are many — but wants to enter the discussion with an open mind.

His mind is more open with some proposals than others. The Washington Redskins’ idea to move the kickoff line up from the 35 to 40? Fox thinks this would contradict its intent. The purpose behind the proposal is for kickers to boot the ball out of the end zone and all but eliminate kickoff returns, which are considered the most dangerous in the game to a players’ health because of the high-speed collisions.

But Fox believes moving the kickoff up will open up another special teams strategy.

“People will do the pop kick so there will be more returns,” Fox said. “You can get better (defensive) field position with the pop kick because your coverage can get there faster. I don’t think that will fly.”

Proposals that advance past the discussion stage will be voted on by the 32 teams Tuesday or Wednesday.

In a Wednesday appearance on the NFL Network, Dean Blandino, the NFL’s head of officiating, said that the league’s competition committee is likely to reevaluate its taunting rule this offseason.

Blandino’s comments came two days after Seattle’s Golden Tate spent about 25 yards of an 80-yard touchdown run taunting St. Louis defenders. Also last weekend, Domininque Rodgers-Cromartie spent much of his 75-yard interception return taunting Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins.

“A lot of people felt that the touchdown shouldn’t have counted, [but] a taunting foul is always treated as a dead-ball foul, meaning whatever happened during the play counts, and the foul is enforced on the next play, which would be the kickoff,” Blandino said of Tate’s touchdown. “In college, this action would take back the touchdown.”

He added that the NFL might consider changing its rule to better resemble the college rule this offseason.

The Broncos did not select an inside linebacker in the draft. They did have Georgia’s Alec Ogletree rated No. 1 on their inside linebacker board and LSU’s Kevin Minter was No. 2. Ogletree’s past character issues off and on the field, though, caused the Broncos to take defensive tackle Sylvester Williams with their No. 28 overall pick.

Ogletree went No. 30 to the St. Louis Rams, whose coach Jeff Fisher has never shied away from character problems. See Adam “Pacman” Jones, Albert Haynesworth and Cortland Finnegan while Fisher was coaching at Tennessee.

The Broncos did sign inside backer Stewart Bradley from free agency but he was a reserve the previous two years with the Arizona Cardinals and received a “back-up” deal of one-year for $1.1 million.

Kyle Orton has one year left on his Broncos contract. Is that enough time to reach the playoffs?

The Denver Post on Thursday will release a 16-page Broncos and NFL preview, breaking down team needs and John Elway’s vision for where the team will head. Find it in a special print section and online at denverpost.com/broncos.

The Chargers were one of the most active teams in free agency, signing 13 veteran players. Before the 2010 season, the Chargers signed only five veteran free agents. If they get a contribution from safety Bob Sanders (age 30) and linebacker Takeo Spikes (34), the Chargers will return to their familiar perch atop the division. Prediction: 10-6

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs took a slow, steady approach to training camp this year. That strategy will be beneficial if they stay healthier than their AFC brethren. The bigger issue for the defending division champions is the constant rumblings that coach Todd Haley and general manager Scott Pioli are butting heads — a sure recipe for failure over the long haul. Prediction: 8-8

Titans coach Jeff Fisher watches as the Broncos line up for a first down in the fourth quarter Sunday in Nashville. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

First, Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton called the Titans’ defense “cheap” on Sunday, after Denver tackle Ryan Harris and center J.D. Walton left with bloody lips and tackle Ryan Clady had both knees wrapped in ice, and as right guard Chris Kuper continued to steam over a helmet-ripping incident that was all over CBS’ broadcast.

Then, on Monday, Broncos coach Josh McDaniels backed his quarterback, saying “our guys did a great job of keeping their poise and composure and not getting drawn into a big unsportsman-like game because I know that’s what they were trying to entice us into doing.”

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.